Skywriting: Skywalker has time for Regis

Wednesday

Dec 11, 2013 at 10:13 AMDec 11, 2013 at 10:26 AM

Skywalker

I don’t get nervous often. My profession in the media requires me to meet many different people of all walks of life including some high profile “celebrities.” I have never really given it much thought when interviewing or meeting someone notable beyond the fact that he or she has a fun job but still is just as human as I.

There are certain exceptions, however. In a previous edition of Skywriting I wrote about my “bucket-list items”; things I wanted to complete before I kicked the proverbial bucket. (Hopefully no sooner than the additional 50 years I hope to have left on this planet.)

One of the bucket-list items was completed in January when I shook hands with President Bill Clinton. I have five people on my list that would make me nervously uneasy. I have been actively working toward scratching more people off my list, and a few weeks ago I was able to do that.

(And Just in case anyone reading this has some connections that I don’t, and in the interest of full disclosure, Skywalker's “People to Meet” bucket list is as follows:

The fifth and final person on my list was checked off while he spoke at the Harvey School. That gentleman is Regis Philbin. Surprising to some people that he is on my list, I hold “Reege” in such high regard. And as is the case with all my bucket list targets, there is an emotional tie with the talk show host. I have very vivid memories of sitting at home (usually sick from school) and watching this loud older guy conversing with a pretty redhead (Kathy Lee Gifford) as they discussed their lives and what they had done that past night. Was it riveting television? No. Was it groundbreaking? Yes. The casual nature of their 15-minute chat would become the template of countless talk shows.

I took notice of Regis as he reminded me of a cranky uncle. He was loud like my Italian family. He grew up in the Bronx like my parents. He was a Yankee fan like me. I always had an interest in broadcasting and he could tell a story like none other. That is a skill and an art. I had never been to a taping of one of his television shows and when he retired from his morning show I thought I had lost my chance. But a co-worker who knew of my “bucket list” informed me of a chat Regis was giving at the Harvey School and got me tickets to attend. I wasn't sure I would be able to meet him but I would at least be close enough to try.

I arrived at the event and one of the coordinators knew who I was and why I was there. While waiting for the speech, the campus official grabbed me and brought me back to where Regis was preparing to go on. He introduced each us and then ... Regis became “Regis.” At the top of his lungs he screamed, “The Skywalker is here to see Regis” ... and again, “The Skywalker is here to see Regis."

It was just like how I saw it on television all those years. I then got the giggles and was unable to speak. It was surreal that I was standing with this broadcast icon. I finally muttered “I am a big fan, and am also in broadcasting. I never made it to your television show.” To which Regis again yelled, “Skywalker has no time for Regis!”

I loved it. It is always nice when someone turns out to be exactly what you thought. I think it spoke to how real he is. A great moment for sure.

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